Assessment of the quality of effluent management from university hospitals in the Littoral department in Benin

Abstract

Background Liquid discharges from hospitals (effluents) threaten the environment and are now a central concern of all stakeholders in the health system and those in the protection of the environment. The management of effluents is a major problem in developing countries. The objective of this study was to assess the quality of effluent management at the level of university hospital centers (CHU) in the Littoral region in Benin. Methods It was a cross-sectional, descriptive, evaluative study that took place in 2020 to assess the “structure”, “process” and “results” components according to standard thresholds (Bad: < 60%; Acceptable: [60–80% [and Good: ≥ 80%). Results In all the CHUs, all the components, as well as the overall quality of the management of hospital effluents, had a score between 0 and 60%, with an assessment deemed bad. The poor quality of the process highlighted the non-compliance with standards relating to the management of hospital liquid discharges. Several factors linked to the “structure”, “process” and “results” components at the same time explain this poor management of university hospitals effluents. Conclusion These effluents discharged without prior treatment into wastewater could constitute a source of dissemination of potentially pathogenic microorganisms. It is therefore important to develop methods for treating these effluents before they are released into the natural environment.

Evaluation of solid biomedical waste management practices in six health facilities in southern Benin

“…In another study conducted in Benin in 2021 in the commune of Agbagnizoun, the bulk of biomedical waste is general waste (38%), followed by non-atomic infectious waste (24%), and sharp materials (5%) [11]. In the university hospitals of Cotonou in Benin in 2021, waste sorting was not performed in 51.9% of cases [10].…”

“…We found that one agent out of two had access to waste garbage cans, 44% of the agents mentioned shortages of waste garbage cans or bags, and the main equipment available to handling personnel was gloves (98.8%). According to Todédji et al in 2021, in Cotonou hospitals, personal protective equipment (PPE) for maintenance workers was insufficient and the quantity of PPE available to the departments did not depend on the number of employees, with delays in supplying the departments sometimes resulting in stock-outs [10]. In the district hospital of Gaweye in Niamey in 2018, the note that the quality of availability and accessibility of inputs essential to the proper management of biomedical waste was 25 % with PPE of maintenance workers old and barely replaced [31].…”

“…60.6% and the CHU-MEL and 80% at the CHUZ-SL. [10]. A higher share of 91% of the staff has undergone continuous training on the management of biomedical waste according to Mwisa and al.…”

“…In Benin in particular, Decree n°2002-484 of 15 November 2002 on the management of biomedical waste in the Republic of Benin, which defines, among other things, the general framework for waste management and the evaluation of MBW management methods in health facilities, has been adopted [9]. In spite of these regulatory efforts, solid biomedical waste are not treated according to standards in Benin [10][11][12]. This is a major problem for both hospitals and the population and makes hospital hygiene a challenge to be overcome [13,14].…”

Review of hospital effluents: special emphasis on characterization, impact, and treatment of pollutants and antibiotic resistance

“…Hospital wastewater (HWW) constitutes a much greater threat to the environment than urban effluent (Sanaa et al, 2019 ). The hospitals can use a considerable volume of water per day, which varies between 400 and 1200 L per day (Todedji et al, 2021 ), and therefore generate an important volume of wastewater, which is estimated between 400 and liter per day (Sanaa et al, 2019 ). These establishments are also known for the variety and high rates of wastewater pollution (Bouzid et al, 2021 ; Machkor et al, 2020 ).…”